This week we continue taking a deeper look at Hebrews 11, take we’ll look at verses 23-40 and see what this passage can mean for the living of our lives today.  You can read Hebrews 11 by clicking here.

Today’s reading made me think of a quote by CS Lewis in Mere Christianity:

“If you read history you will find that the Christians begin the most for the present world are just the ones that thought the most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot. in the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark one Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. And that Heaven and you’ll get the earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you’ll get neither.”

“It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”  I think about that a lot.  In Hebrews 11, we see people strive for a home that was not upon this earth, and because of that, became very effective of the kingdom of God upon this earth. When we know that this world is not our home, we are able to live with a freedom upon this earth that can’t be contained.

Each of these mentioned in the text today suffered greatly for their faith, even the judges and David. They suffered rejection and pain and defeat. Read David’s Psalms.  Many of them are filled with language that today we may classify as being depressed.  But they kept on, kept striving and pushing and seeking that better homeland.

They did great, great things for their fellow humans, great things for the kingdom, and great things that echo to this day. Because they knew this world was not their home. They in time, received something better because they were faithful in this moment.

Now listen, I’m not calling for a pie in the sky, by and by, type of thinking.  In fact, just the opposite. We should work with all our energy and passion and efforts to let His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Work hard for the kingdom.  Don’t give, even if we don’t see it.  Why?

Because this world is not our home. Work to make this world like our home. But it’s not home.  Remember that today. Something better is coming.  Hold fast to Jesus. Something better is coming.

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